Voting machines



17 Sheets-Sheet l VOTING MACHINES l.. JOHNSON ETAL E@ zkzmo #mi T w Feb. l, 1966 Filed June` 27, 1962 INVENTORS l; LeonordL.Johnson R hard C.Wagner ln OM A ORNEYS Feb- 1, 1966 l.. JOHNSON ETAL 3,232,529

VOTING MACHINES Filed June 27, 1962 17 She-zes-Sheerl 2 INVENTORS 240 246 Leonard L. Johnson Richard C. Wagner BY fr@ RNEY5 Feb. l, 1966 L.. JOHNSON ETAL VOTING MACHINES l'7 Sheets-Sheet .'5

Filed June 27, 1962 INVENTORS Leonard L. Johnson Richolrd C. Wagner ATTORNEYS CD (D BY My oh@ @E om.

Fell l, 1966 L.. JOHNSON ETAL 3,232,529

VOTING MACHINES Filed June 27, 1962 17 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTORS Leonard L.Johnson Richard C. Wagner BY M wir@ Y ATTO NE Feb. l, 1966 l.. L. JOHNSON ETAL 3,232,529

VOTING MACHINES Filed June 27, 1962 17 Sheets-Sheet 5 H\IVENTOR5Y Leonard L. Johnson Richard C. Wagner ATTORNEYY Feb' l, 1966 JOHNSON ETAL 3,232,529

VOTING MACHINES Filed June 27, 1962 17 Sheets-Sheet 6 INVENTORS L.Johnson Richard C.Wogner @www A ORNEYY Febl, 1966 JOHNSON ETAL 3,232,529

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VOTING MAGHINES Filed June 27, 1962 17 Sheets-Sheet l1 INVENTORS Leonard L. Johnson Richard C. Wagner ATTORNEY` Feb. 1, 1966 L. L. JOHNSON ETALl VOTING MACHINES 1'7 Sheets-Sheet l2 Filed June 27, 1962 m.. mhlhw. mm@ om@ Ohm Wmiw

mmm whoY mmm mmm im @Om mmm N w www @l5 mm @om -g mvENToR Leonard L.Johnson Richard C.Wogner BY i ATT RNEY' Feb. 1, 1966 l.. L.. JOHNSON ETAL 3,232,529

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VOTING MACHINES INVENTORS Leonard L. Johnson Richard C. Wagner ATTORNEYS Feb. 1, 1966 JOHNSON ETAL 3,232,529

VOTING MACHINES Filed June 27, 1962 17 Sheets-Sheet 15 Feb. l, 1966 L. l.. JOHNSON ETAL 3,232,529

VOTING MACHINES Filed June 27, 1962 17 Sheets-Sheet 16 INVENTORS I0 co lO A/ eonord L Johnson Rlchord C. Wagner mmv @ov Y@ BY QW( f@ ATTORNEYS Feb. 1, 1966 VOTING MACHINES 17 Sheets-Sheet l? Filed June 27, 1962 MM nnv r Ww mm. w m Ehm a WJ. W W. `\hm Om wm 1.|C .w A f r r r w m m 2W/m KTM) III om w Y mm Ilm e I N mm mm FLL'. En. N

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nited States Patent O 3,232,529 VOTING MACHINES Leonard L. Johnson, Fort Wayne, Ind., and Richard C.

Wagner, Clarendon Hills, Ill., assignors, by mesne assignments, to Automatic Voting Machine Corporation,

Jamestown, N .Y., a corporation of Delaware Filed June 27, 1962, Ser. No. 205,722 30 Claims. (Cl. 23S-54) This invention relates to voting machines and, more specifically, to voting machines of the automatic tape.

It is the primary object of this invention to provide automatic voting machines which are simpler and less expensive to manufacture than t-hose of the prior art.

The foregoing object is accomplished in main part by a novel modular construction and a novel flexible ribbon interlock which limits the number of candidates for which a voter may cast his ballot together with a novel write-in unit and a novel machine control unit for party voting and for :setting and clearing the voting machine. The voting machine provided by the present invention includes, in` addition to the components specifically mentioned above, a voting module for each candidate, an office-head module, one or more write-in modules for each office to be lled, and, in some instances, one or more blank modules.

The voting modules, which are all identical, each have a vote button which, when depressed by the voter, moves an output member Ifrom an unvoted position to a voted position. When the voting machine is subsequently cleared, the output members are restored to the unvoted position and the votes are registered. Each voting module also includes a cancel button which may be depressed to restore the output member to the unvoted position to rescind a vote.

The Voting modules are assembled in columns in which they are interlocked so that all modules in the column may be voted simultaneously as contrasted with the individual operation described above. This mode of operation is employed for party voting in which a single lever may be actuated to vote for the entire slate of candidates presented by a particular party. For party voting the present invention also provides a novel con trol unit which combines a control for unlocking or setting the machine, a voting lever for each party, and a control for clearing the machine and restoring it to a locked condition from which it may be reset.

In some circumstances the number of candidates for a particular oflice on each slate will require a greater number of modules than can be accommodated in a single column. To provide for this contingency, the voting machine of the present invention includes a number of columns and an equal number of party selection pins which are incorporated in the machine control unit. These pins may be positioned by the election otlcials to couple one or several columns to each of the party levers.

In programming the voting machine, candidates for each oice to be lled are assigned voting modules within one or more columns, depending on the number of candidates and the number of modules in the column. In order to identity the oice, oflice head modules are assembled on the upper end of each column. The ofce head modules carry identifying labels and also provide mechanical connections between the voting and write-in modules in the columns .and the party levers to which the columns are coupled.

Often an independent candidate will vie for a particular oice against the party candidates. To accommodate such candidates the voting modules are provided With party latches which permit an independent candidates voting module to be assembled in a column with 3,232,529 Patented Feb. 1, 1966 ICC the modules of party candidates for the same oflice, but which, in effect, disconnects the independent candidates module from the party lever so that such candidates must be independently voted for as described above.

Similarly, voters may wish to vote for persons who have not been formally nominated and whose names do not appear on `a voting module. To accommodate such voters, the voting machine of the present invention provides a Write-in voting unit and one or more write-in modules for operating this unit. The write-in unit includes a normally locked ballot access door which may be unlocked to vexpose `a ballot on which the desired candidates name may be written. The Write-in modules are provided to unlock the ballot access door and are similar to the voting modules described except that their output members are connected to a door latching mechanism in the write-in unit insteadof a counter. 'f

The Write-in voting unit described above is preferablyl equipped with a paper supply and transport system actuated concurrently with the Write-in unit door unlocking mechanism by the write-in module to advance the papery and expose a new ballot. In order to prevent voters from inadvertently operating two Write-in modules in succession and thereby losing an opportunity to Write in a candidates name, the write-in unit is equipped with a novel interlock which prevents `simultaneous inputs to the write-in unit from a plurality of modules.

One of the most important requisites of an automatic voting machine is a 'fool-proof mechanism -for limiting the number of votes cast for a given oiice by each voter.

For example, if the voter is to be allowed to select six` of a larger number of candidates for a give lollice as in an at-large election of members to the house of Representatives, the voting machine must prevent the voter from casing a ballot for more than six nominees. Onei of the salient features of the present invention is a novel flexible ribbon interlock provided for this purpose. One ribbon interlock heretofore proposed for voting machine application is disclosed in United States Patent 846,104 issued to W. M. Delavan on March 5, 1907, for Multi-Indorsement Restricting Device for Voting Machines. The ribbon device of the Delavan patent, however, was employed for a different purpose then and is not suited for use in the voting machine of the present invention with out extensive modification. y v

A portion of this interlock is provided by the voting and Write-in modules which, insofar as they provide components of the interlock, are identical. Each of these modules' includes a pair of rollers, one lixed to the module' hous-j ing and the other carried on the module output member. Threaded over the rollers of the assembled modulesv is a flexible metallic ribbon fastened, at each end, to a. ribbon supply spool. When the machine is in the cleared conguration, the interlock ribbon lhas Ia predetermined amount of slack which will vary with the number of nominees to be elected to a particular oice. Subse-A quent depression of the voting button of a selected module by the voter will displace that modules output member, in a direction reducing this slack by a predetermined increment such that, when the maximum allowable num ber of candidates has been selected, the ribbon will be' taut, preventing the voter from depressing a further vote button to cast another vote.

As was mentioned above, each module is provided with a cancel `button. By depressing this button, the v-oter may return the output member to its unvoted position, restoring an increment of slack to the ribbon `and permitting the voter to select another Icandidate for the 4oflice.

The ribbon supply spools are removably lixed in cooperating supply spool locks which are incorporated in the blank and oice head modules described above and preferably include one-way clutches to .facilitate lprecise adjustment of the interlock ribbon tension.

When the voter has settled` on the candidates for whom he Iwishes to vote, he operates a lever to clear the machine, preferably concurrently opening the cutain of a voting'booth. The clearing action yrestores the output members .of the voted module-s to the non-voted position and simultaneously registers a vote for each ofthe selected candidates. The vote registering mechanism `forms no part of the present invention and may be of any desired construction. yOne suitable lform is dis-closed lin United States Patent 2,471,567 issued to A. N. Gustavson for Voting Machine.

In its 4cleared configuration, the voting machine is locked, ypreventing persons from inadvertently or deliberatelycasting ballots to which they are not entitled. A subsequent `voter, upon being properly identified, however, may operate a second lever to unlock the machine so that hemay castlhisballot At the ksame time, themachine unlocking lever preferably a'ctuates1 a mechanism tol close a voting booth curtain. The particular curtain operating mechanism operated by the machine clearing and unlocking. levers likewise forms no part of the present invention. One .form of mechanism lwhich may readily be adapted for use in the voting machine provided by the present invention .is shownin United States IPatent 2,284,144 issuedMay 26, 1942 to A. N. Gustavson for Voting Machine.

Other dbjects of the present invention, which may be realized from the novel features briey described above, include:

i (1) The provision of voting machines having a modular construction `facilitating assembly and disassembly of the machine;

' `(2) The provision of voting machines with simplified and reliable interl-ocks for limiting the number of candidates a voter may Vnominate for a particular office;

(t3) The 4provision of voting machines having novel control units with voter-operated levers for party voting and for clearing and setting vthe machines;

(4) In conjunction with the foregoing object, the provision of voting machines having a columnar array of voting modules and party program devices for operatively coupling Vone or more selected column-s to each party lever; v l (5) In conjunction with the next precedingobject, the provision of voting modules having latches tor operatively disconnecting any, some, or all of the voting modules in any column from the party levers without affecting the connection to the remainder of the modules in the column; l l(6) The-provision of novel voting modules for voting machines of modular construction including locking mechanisms lfor preventing unintentional vote cancellati-on and cancel 'buttons permitting deliberate cancellations;

y(7) The provision in 'voting machines o'f modular construction of novel write-in voting units operated by writein modules;

' 1(8) In conjunction with the preceding object, the provision in the write-in units of novel interlocks preventing simultaneous actuation of a plurality of write-in modules; fand 1(9) rIn voting machines of modular construction, the

provision ofv columnar arrays of voting modules with the modules in each column being for' candidates to the same ofiiceand novel oiiice head modules superimposable on each column to identify the oliice.

l Other objects and further novel features of the present invention4 will become fully apparent from the appended claims and from the ensuing detailed description and discussion taken together with the attached drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a front view of the novel automatic voting machine provided by t-he present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a perspective view'of avoting module employed in the voting machine of FIGURE 1;

*FIGURE 3 is a top view of the module of FIGURE 2 in the unvoted configuration with -a portion 4of the top of the module housing Ibrokenfaway to more clearly show the operating mechanism;

FIGURE 4 is a bottom view of the voting module in the unvoted configuration with a portion of the bottom 1of `the housing broken away to show the operating mechanism;

FIGURE 5 is a View similar to 'FIGURE 3 with the module in the voted configuration;

'FIGURE y6 is a perspective view of an ofiice'head module employed in the voting machine of FIGURE l;

FIGURE 7 is an end View `of a columnar assembly or array of voting modules together with an office head module and a blank module viewed substantially in the direction indicated rby arrows 7-7 in 'FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 8 is a generally diagrammatic `front view of the voting machine of .FIGURE 1 with the machine conm trol unit tipped up from its normal position to kshow its: bottom surface and the mechanical connections between it and the column-s of modules;

FIGURE '9 is a top plan view of the machine control?. Aunit as it appears after `the voting machine 'has beeni cleared and locked and the vote registered bydepressionz of the curtain open lever; l

FIGUR-E is a view similar to FIGURE 9 illustrat-- ing the configuration of the machine control unit after the curtain close lever has been depressed to unlock the machine and set it for voting; v

lFIGURE 11 is a view similar to FIGURE 10 illustrating the configuration vof the machine control unit after one of the party levers has vbeen depressed to register a straight party vote;

FIGURE 12is 'a view similar to FIGURE 11 but illustrating the configuration of the'machine control unit after depression of the other party lever;

FIGURES 13-16 are views similar to 'FIGURES 9-1'2, respectively, but with certain components of the vmachine control unit removed to illustrate the major control elements of the unit;

FIGURE 17 is a right end View of the machine control unit;

V.FIGURE 17a is a sectional view of the party rail yoperating crank taken substantially along line 17a-17a of FIGURE 17;

FIGURE 17h is a side view of the reset bellcrank operating slide;

FIGURE 18 is a sectional View, taken substantially along line 13-18 of `FIGURE 14, illustrating the posi tioning of a party programming pin to couple the associated column of modulesto the upper party rail;

FIGURE 19 is a view similar to v FIGURE 18 taken substantially along line 19-19 ot FIGURE 14 and illustrating the positioning of a party programming pin to couple the associated column of modules to the lower party rail;

FIGURE 20 is a view'of the programmingpin and a portion of the slide'block in Vwhich it is supported with the pin in its upper position and is taken substantially' along line 20-20 of FIGURE 18;

FIGURE 21 i-s a view similar to FIGURE 20 taken substantially along line 21-21 of FIGURE 19'and showing the programming pin in its lower position;

FIGURE 22 is a top view of the write-in votingunit employed in the automatic voting machine of FIGURE 1' with the write-in ballot access d-oor locked in its normal closed position;

FIGURE 23 is a bottom view of the voting unit in the lsame configuration as in FIGURE 22;

FIGURE 24 is a sectional view of the voting unit taken substantially along line 24-24 of FIGURE 22 and illu'strates the details of the door locking mechanism and the input members provided'for operating this mechanism together with the interlock Straps and rollers and the, interlock channel;

, FIGURE 24a is side view of the write-in unit channel interlock;

FIGURE 25 is a sectional view, taken substantially along line 25-25 of FIGURE 24, of the write-in unit input members;

FIGURE 26 is a sectional View, taken substantially along line 26-26 of FIGURE 24, of the locking straps and interlock channel;

FIGURE 27 is a view taken substantially along line 27-27 of FIGURE 24 of the locking straps and rollers;

FIGURE 28 is a View similar to FIGURE 24 but with one of the input members actuated to unlock the ballot access door;

FIGURE 29 is a view similar to FIGURE 27 showing the coniiguration of the locking straps `and rollers with one of the input members actuated;

FIGURE 30 is a rear view of the voting machine of FIGURE 1 with the housing removed and with the interlock ribbon as it appears with the voting machine cleared and all modules in the unv-oted position;

FIGURE 31 is a View similar to FIGURE 30 but with the maximum number of modules permitted by a given voting program -operated to the voted position and the slack removed from the interlock ribbon;

FIGURE 32 is a side view of an interlock ribbon supply spool, the spool lock in which the spool is removably secured, and a fragment of the module in which the lock is incorporated;

FIGURE 33 is an end view, to an enlarged scale, of a ribbon supply spool;

FIGURE 34 is a view of the ribbon supply spool similar to FIGURE 33 with the ribbon clamping cam removed;

FIGURE 35 is a sectional view of the ribbon supply spool taken substantially along line 35-35 of FIGURE 32; and FIGURE 36 is a sectional view of the ribbon supply spool clamp taken substantially along line 36-36 of FIGURE 32.

Referring now to FIGURE 1 of the drawings, the automatic voting machine 48 provided by the present invention is of modular construction and includes, among its major components, aV plurality of voting mo-dules 50 which are arranged in vertical columns 62a to 62d and are independently operable for pointer (that is, individual) voting, a machine control unit 52 which includes respective controls for unlocking and for clearing the voting machine controls and for party voting, a writein voting -unit 54operated by Write-in voting modules 56, and a exible metallic ribbon interlock 57 (see FIGURES 3() and 31) which limits the number of nominees a voter may select Ifor a particular 4oiiice to be iilled. The foregoing components, together with a plurality of oice head modules 58 which are provided to identify the oflices to be lled, and a varying number of blank modules 6i) which are provided to equalize the number of modules in each of the modularcolumns 62, are assembled in a housing 64 which may be of any suitable construction. Voting machine 48 is preferably employed in conjunction with a voting booth which may be of conventional con-` struction and which is not illustrated in FIGURE 1 since it forms no part of the present invention.

A voter, entering the voting booth, rst depresses a pivoted lever 66 incorporated in machine control unit 52 which unlocks the voting machine and readies it for use. This lever may also be employed to simultaneously close the curtains of the voting -booth by employing curtain-controlling 4mechanism such as that described in Gustavson Patent 2,284,144 referred to above. The voter may then proceed to cast his lballot. After selecting his choices for the office or oices to be filled, the voter depresses a lever 68 also incorporated in machine control unit 52 which clears the machine, actuates appropriate counter mechanism to register the vote, and restores the machine to a locked condition, preventing the machine from registering further votes until unlocked by a su-bsequent voter. Preferably lever 63 is also connected to an appropriate curtain-opening mechanism to open the curtains of the voting booth. The particular mechanism employed for this purpose, like the curtain closing mechanism, forms no part of the present invention. One satisfactory mechanism which may be employed is described in detail in the Gustavson Patent No. 2,284,144.

The voting machine 4S of the present invention provides two methods by which a voter may select the candidate or candidates he desires to elect to a particular ofiice. First, pointer voting in which the voter may select at random the permissive number of nominees for a particular oiice. And second, party voting, in which the voter, by depressing a single lever, casts a v-ote for all of the candidates presented by a given party. Y

In the illustrated embodiment, the voting machine has been programmed for an election in which six candidates are to be elected to the Hou-se of Representatives. Itis supposed that six of these candidates have been nominated by each of lthe major political parties. By depressing the voting button -70 provided on each of the voting modules 50, the vo-ter may select the IsiX candidates he desires without regard to their political aililiation. On the other hand, if the vot-er wishes to cast a party vote for the six candidates nominated by the Republican party, for example, he `may do so by depressing a pivoted lever '72 which will condition the voting machine so that, when it is subsequently cleared, a vote will be registered for each of the candida-tes associated with the voting modules 50 in the modular columns 62C and 62d. Similarly, if the voter wishes to vote for the six `Democratic candidates, he may do so by depressing the pivoted lever 74.

In addition to candidates nominated by political parties, a number of so-called independent candidates may seek election to a particular oiiice. To accommodate independent voters, the voting modules 50 employed in the voting machine ofthe present invention are provided with novel party latches 76 (see FIGURE 2) which permit the voting modules employed for independent condidates to be uncoupled from the party voting levers 72 rand 74. Consequently, votes may be cast for independent candidates only by depressing the voting buttons 70 of the modules provided for those candidates.

In addition to regularly .announced candidates, many jurisdictions 'provide by law that the voter must be given the the opportunity to write in the name of any person he may desire as his nominee for a particular .oiiice to be filled. For this purpose, the voting machine of the present invention provides `a write-in unit 54 (FIGURE 1) which includes a normally closed and locked Write-in ballot access door 78 which, when unlocked provides access to a ballot on which a candidates name may 'he written in. The access door 78 is unlocked by depressing the voting button 80 provided on each of the write-in voting modules 56.

At times a voter may, after having selected a candidate, change his mind and desire to cast his v-ote for another candidate. For this purpose, each of the voting modules 50 is provided with a cancel button 82 which may :be depressed to restore the module from a voted to an unv-oted condition.

To identify .the oiiice to which the candidates are seeking election, an oflice head module 58 is superimposed on each modular column `62. Although, in the lillustrated embodiments, only a single ofiice is to be lled, modular columns 62a and 62b might, in other circumstances, contain voting modules associated with candidates for one .oiiice and columns 62C and 62d modules for candidates 'seeking election to a second -oilicel In this case one label would be employed in the oliice head modules on columns 62a and 62b and a lsecond label in the otii-ce head modules on columns 62e and 62d. 

1. IN A FLEXIBLE-PROGRAM VOTING MACHINE, A PLURALITY OF INTERCHANGEABLE VOTING MODULES HAVING MECHANICAL INPUT MEMBERS AND MECHANICAL OUTPUT MEMBERS; MEANS OPERATIVELY CONNECTING SAID OUTPUT MEMBERS TO SAID INPUT MEMBERS FOR TRANSLATING MOVEMENT OF SAID OUTPUT MEMBERS IN A LINEAR DIRECTION TRANSVERSE OF THE DIRECTION OF MOVEMENT OF SAID INPUT MEMBERS WHEN SAID INPUT MEMBERS ARE MOVED FROM UNVOTED TO VOTED POSITIONS; A FLEXIBLE INTERLOCK-RIBBON OPERATIVELY ENGAGING THE MOVABLE MEMBER OF EACH MODULE FOR LIMTING THE NUMBER OF VOTING MODULE MEMBERS MOVED TO THE VOTED POSITION; AND MEANS FO RELEASING SAID INTERLOCK-RIBBON AND RETURNING MEMBERS PREVIOUSLY MOVED TO THE VOTED POSITION TO THE UNVOTED POSITION. 